J S Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.5

Johann Sebastian Bach was one of the greatest and most important figures in all musical history.

He was born in Germany in 1685 to a family of professional musicians. He was the youngest of 8 children and an orphan by 10 years old. Like Purcell, who died 10 years after Bach was born, Bach was composing during the Baroque period.

To make a living as a composer in the 18th century, you had to have a patron (someone like a Duke, Count or Prince) who would employ you in much the same way they would any other servant.

In 1717, Bach was appointed choirmaster at the court of Prince Leopold in Kothen. Just before getting this job, Bach was commissioned by the Margrave (a type of nobleman) of Brandenburg to compose a set of instrumental pieces. This type of commission was a way of composers earning money on top of their salaried jobs. However, Bach was never paid by the Margrave for the six concertos!

The Concerto Grosso:

A concerto is a piece that features a soloist and an orchestra. If there is only one soloist it is a solo concerto. If there is a group of solo instruments, it is known as a concerto grosso, which were particularly popular in the Baroque period.

Concertos usually have three movements. Movements are large sections of a piece separated by short breaks. They tend to have contrasting moods and tempo and sound complete played on their own. Brandenburg No. 5 follows the typical order of 3 movements—fast/slow/fast.

The 1st and 3rd movements are both in D major. The slow 2nd movement, written just for the solo instruments, is in the relative minor (B minor)

The 3 solo instruments are known as the concertino and the larger group is made up of a small string orchestra known as the ripieno. The 3 solo instruments in Brandenburg No. 5 are: Flute, violin and harpsichord.

As in Purcell’s ‘Music for a While’ there is also a basso continuo playing throughout. This is made up a cello and a harpsichord reading from a figured bass.